Man and Superman and Three Other Plays

George Bernard Shaw, one of Britain's most acclaimed playwrights, produced a large wealth of dramatic and comedic plays during his lifetime. In "Man and Superman and Three Other Plays," four of his most famous works are presented. In 1903's "Man and Superman," we find a play that on the surface is a mere comedy of manners but upon deeper examination delves into the philosophic themes outlined by Nietzsche's "Ubermensch," or more distinctly man's journey towards self-fulfillment and perfection. "Candida" questions the Victorian notions of love and marriage, and it looks to discover what both men and women expect from their partners. In "Mrs. Warren's Profession," a daughter is horrified to hear about her mother's profession as a brothel owner. Shaw sought to expose the hypocrisies present in the Victorian middle class through each character's relationship with Mrs. Kitty Warren. Finally, Shaw's first financial success came from "The Devil's Disciple," the story about self-proclaimed outcast and British supporter Richard Dudgeon during the American Revolution. Yet when he is mistaken for the local minister, a colonial sympathizer, Richard shocks everyone and keeps his own identity a secret. "Man and Superman and Three Other Plays" will please readers as a representative collection of one of Britain's most accomplished and prolific playwrights.